Hi all
I have not been around for a few years but now have a strange problem with my mini Pebble who is just coming up to 7 years old. 3 or 4 weeks ago after our morning walk I found her in a strange corner (unusual spot for her) in the bedroom standing and quivering all over. I picked her up and gave her a cuddle but it was a while (?30 mins) before it stopped. The situation has now reoccurred over the last few weeks - at least every other day. She seems to know the shaking is about to happen as she goes to a quiet corner ‘ready’. Worst time seemed to be triggered by the house alarms sounding due to a power cut but nothing abnormal in the house since then ). Definitely more common in the morning - another sign of impending attack is that she refuses her breakfast after her walk. This is VERY unusual - she eats it about and hour after the attack.
Yes - we have been to our local vet who observed her for a day. Bloods and urine normal. Referred to specialist vets who found heart murmur when prepping for MRI. MRI was normal, nerve checks were normal, still waiting for confirmation of CSF test. We have been asked to keep a diary but no other action at the moment. Apparently no physiological reason for the heart murmur so no benefit in treating.
Other than perhaps a little more ‘clingy’ than usual following me around the house Pebble seems fine - no evidence of pain, just confusion when the shaking occurs.
Anyone have any experience of anything similar?
Thank you, Jill
Unusual shaking /quivering
- Teaeee
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Re: Unusual shaking /quivering
Hi Jill,
Sorry to hear that Pebble is suffering this issue but glad to hear that her vet checks have not revealed any physical health issue - although I realise you are still waiting for the CSF test results.
Pain and anxiety are the two most common reasons for this kind of behaviour but, having said that, finding out what has caused this can be more tricky. You are absolutely doing the right thing by having the vet run some tests and the diary keeping is a good idea.
Has anything changed in your routines recently or anything happened on a walk outside? Although it seems odd that it should last so long, it does sound as though anxiety might be at the root of the behaviour. One of our dogs is petrified of fireworks to the point that she will hide in a dark corner, shake, refuse food or even comfort at times when there are fireworks set off locally - around 5 November and New Year. She is very sensitive to any sound that might resemble a firework going off which can trigger the behaviour too but it is not a regular thing by any means. I have read that anxiety issues have become more frequent with dogs since the pandemic for a variety of reasons - changed routines, people at home more, more deliveries than previously.... as well as the dog/s picking up on the general stress / anxiety of family members over the restrictions on movement, fear of illness etc. Even when routines have not changed a great deal and when life may now be getting back to more normal times, anxiety can come from a build up of small stresses and dogs (like people) can suddenly find it hard to cope and become depressed or frightened and start to act abnormally.
I have recently had a slightly similar experience to yours with one of our affens although this was resolved within a few days so not as long-lasting as with Pebble. Our girl is also 7 years old and she started acting oddly about a week ago, very clingy, followed me around every time I moved and wanted to be on my lap when I was sitting down. She kept her tail tucked under, avoided the other dogs and on the second day started shaking all over unless she was held. The evening of the second day she refused her dinner which is unheard of for her as she loves her food. There was no sickness, pee and poo fine but just acting really strange. She slept next to me at night but the following morning was worse as she was very restless, pacing around, following me but not resting even when I did, just kept moving and shaking all over the whole time. At this point I was really frightened and she was taken to see the vet within a couple of hours. The vet examined her but said that there was no indication at all of anything wrong with her and that we should just take her home and monitor her. She slept for the rest of that day - did eat her dinner - slept through the whole night and by morning was much more like her usual self. She is fine now - no shaking, pacing or clingy behaviour. I still don’t know what caused the problem - I have seen shaking and clingy behaviour with a couple of our mini schnauzers in the past when they had been stung by a wasp but that is usually resolved within a day at the most although one of the girls who was stung on a walk became paranoid about going near the street where it happened for ages afterwards and gets panicky at the sound of buzzing.
These are just to share my only experiences of this kind of behaviour with our dogs but, of course, may not be relevant to Pebble. I do know how distressing and worrying it is seeing a dog clearly troubled by something and not be able to understand what it is or how to help her and I do hope you can get a diagnosis very soon. Sending hugs to you and Pebble and do let us know on the Forum how things progress with her.
Sorry to hear that Pebble is suffering this issue but glad to hear that her vet checks have not revealed any physical health issue - although I realise you are still waiting for the CSF test results.
Pain and anxiety are the two most common reasons for this kind of behaviour but, having said that, finding out what has caused this can be more tricky. You are absolutely doing the right thing by having the vet run some tests and the diary keeping is a good idea.
Has anything changed in your routines recently or anything happened on a walk outside? Although it seems odd that it should last so long, it does sound as though anxiety might be at the root of the behaviour. One of our dogs is petrified of fireworks to the point that she will hide in a dark corner, shake, refuse food or even comfort at times when there are fireworks set off locally - around 5 November and New Year. She is very sensitive to any sound that might resemble a firework going off which can trigger the behaviour too but it is not a regular thing by any means. I have read that anxiety issues have become more frequent with dogs since the pandemic for a variety of reasons - changed routines, people at home more, more deliveries than previously.... as well as the dog/s picking up on the general stress / anxiety of family members over the restrictions on movement, fear of illness etc. Even when routines have not changed a great deal and when life may now be getting back to more normal times, anxiety can come from a build up of small stresses and dogs (like people) can suddenly find it hard to cope and become depressed or frightened and start to act abnormally.
I have recently had a slightly similar experience to yours with one of our affens although this was resolved within a few days so not as long-lasting as with Pebble. Our girl is also 7 years old and she started acting oddly about a week ago, very clingy, followed me around every time I moved and wanted to be on my lap when I was sitting down. She kept her tail tucked under, avoided the other dogs and on the second day started shaking all over unless she was held. The evening of the second day she refused her dinner which is unheard of for her as she loves her food. There was no sickness, pee and poo fine but just acting really strange. She slept next to me at night but the following morning was worse as she was very restless, pacing around, following me but not resting even when I did, just kept moving and shaking all over the whole time. At this point I was really frightened and she was taken to see the vet within a couple of hours. The vet examined her but said that there was no indication at all of anything wrong with her and that we should just take her home and monitor her. She slept for the rest of that day - did eat her dinner - slept through the whole night and by morning was much more like her usual self. She is fine now - no shaking, pacing or clingy behaviour. I still don’t know what caused the problem - I have seen shaking and clingy behaviour with a couple of our mini schnauzers in the past when they had been stung by a wasp but that is usually resolved within a day at the most although one of the girls who was stung on a walk became paranoid about going near the street where it happened for ages afterwards and gets panicky at the sound of buzzing.
These are just to share my only experiences of this kind of behaviour with our dogs but, of course, may not be relevant to Pebble. I do know how distressing and worrying it is seeing a dog clearly troubled by something and not be able to understand what it is or how to help her and I do hope you can get a diagnosis very soon. Sending hugs to you and Pebble and do let us know on the Forum how things progress with her.
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras
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Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud
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- Teaeee
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Re: Unusual shaking /quivering
Just a thought, both my schnauzers have been absolutely terrified by the internal house alarm going off, Otto always howls at alarms and is very unsettled and this occurred after an internal house alarm going off once. Did they start after the house alarm? Have you tried completely changing the routine for a few days like feeding first before a walk, just something to indicate whether this is psychological or physical.
Man cannot survive with wine alone...
we also need a schnauzer.
we also need a schnauzer.
- Teaeee
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Re: Unusual shaking /quivering
Thank you. No quivering today but she refused breakfast after walk again. I agree - we plan to change routine tomorrow and feed before the walk. As for the alarm - it was power going off so the alarm started beeping to warn of no power - but yes, it did happen just before this started and it is difficult to be sure whether a coincidence or not.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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Re: Unusual shaking /quivering
My boy Scrappy started doing this a while back.. if I raise my voice for any reason he shakes and sometimes I find him just shaking for no reason at all.. I always pick him up and live on him and tell him he’s my boy and how much I love him! He has a grad 4.6 heart murmur and takes meds two times a day. I’m not sure if the murmur has anything to do with it but I just thought I would share.